Category: Italy

LSE: The coalition that has just taken office in Rome did not begin well. But as Andrea Capussela writes, among its proposals is a plan to strengthen the rule of law, which could improve Italy’s unfair and inefficient system. Its opponents lie not only among the country’s establishment, however: tension also exists within the coalition between the Five Star Movement and the League.… Be Informed

The Local: In a ruling on Tuesday, the Court of Cassation recommended a “blanket” seizure of funds from the hard-right party’s bank accounts, deposits and other assets in connection with the fraud case against its founder Umberto Bossi, his son Renzo and ex-treasurer Francesco Belsito.… Be Informed

DW: Italian police on Wednesday said an international criminal gang who stole artefacts from Sicilian archaeological sites had been dismantled with scores of arrests made.

A total of 23 people have been arrested in relation to the gang, with eight in custody, seven under house arrest in Italy, and three subject to European arrest warrants in Germany, Spain and Britain.… Be Informed

The Guardian: Matteo Salvini’s electoral victory in the southern region of Calabria during the Italian general election this year was supported by a former politician who law enforcement authorities have claimed has close ties to the ‘Ndrangheta, the criminal organisation that controls most of the cocaine trade in Europe.… Be Informed

Sole 24 Ore : In the last report on migrants, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) pointed out that Italy has once again became part of list of the world leaders in terms of the country of origin of migrants.… Be Informed

“I am here for a pact of honor and a pact of love”. Matteo Salvini said this when he was addressing the traditional Pontida rally for the Lega Nord members for the first time since appointed Minister for Interior. Salvini invited those present to avoid hatred. … Be Informed

Niccolo Bettarini, the son of Italian TV presenter Simona Ventura and former footballer Stefano Bettarini for a moment was in a critical condition, after suffering multiple stabbings following a fight in a disco club in Milan.

The incident happened around 5am (Local Time) outside the disco Old Fashion.… Be Informed

Tension in the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5s) was registered after the speaker of the Italian Chamber Roberto Fico (who hails from the same party), during a visit in Pozzallo said “I would not close the ports.”

During his visit, Fico said that “heart and head are both required in this issue.… Be Informed

Washington Times: Spain says Barcelona will be the docking port for an aid boat that rescued 60 migrants in waters near Libya but was not allowed to land by both Italy and Malta.

A spokesman with the prime minister’s office said the Open Arms boat, run under Spanish flag by the Barcelona-based aid group Proactiva Open Arms, had the right to dock in the eastern city.… Be Informed

Times of Malta: An NGO boat with around 50 rescued migrants on board should head to Malta because it provided the closest port, Italy’s right-wing deputy prime minister said on Saturday, sparking a fresh diplomatic spat between the neighbouring countries.

But a Maltese government clarified at once that the closest port to the vessel was actually Lampedusa, which falls under Italy’s responsibility.… Be Informed

The Minister of Economic Development and Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Luigi Di Maio, has announced that he intends to start to necessary legal procedures which will lead to an absolute ban on betting advertising, irrespective whether it is TV or football jerseys (and not only) of the Italian teams.… Be Informed

Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is reported to be satisfied by the deal. “It was a long negotiation but from today Italy is no longer alone.”

He listed the elements of the agreement, including the possibility of setting up migrant centres in EU countries to decide on asylum requests, but he made it clear Italy had not yet decided on whether to have such a site on its territory.… Be Informed

Italy and Malta are refusing to allow a migrant rescue ship operated by the award-winning Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms to enter their territorial waters, the NGO tweeted on Thursday.
“Italy and Malta are refusing to allow the ship Open Arms access to their territorial waters.… Be Informed

Il Fatto Quotidiano reports that it is not all as it seems in the very tough clash between Italy and France, between Matteo Salvini and Emmanuel Macron on immigration; a real diplomatic war on the emergency landings.

A report on Financial Times says that Giuseppe Conte and Emmanuel Macron held an unscheduled dinner this week to defuse tension over immigration — the issue convulsing European politics and which threatens to overshadow a pivotal EU summit this week.

According to one senior Italian official, the Italian prime minister and French president — who was in Rome for an audience with Pope Francis — held a “lengthy” meeting at Casina Valadier, a restaurant in the Villa Borghese gardens in the city centre, on Monday night.… Be Informed

Financial Times: Matteo Salvini’s position at the heart of Italy’s new coalition government was bolstered after his candidates made big gains in municipal elections, including the capture of a trio of leftwing strongholds in Tuscany from the centre-left Democratic party.

The victories of Mr Salvini’s rightwing alliance in Siena, Pisa and Massa suggest the 45-year old interior minister’s populist, Eurosceptic and anti-immigrant message is attracting more voters.… Be Informed

ANSA: The Italian Ministry of the Interior authorised the cargo ship Alexander Maersk to dock at the port of Ragusa. This was announced by the mayor Roberto Ammatuna, underlining that “this is the end of the nightmare for 110 migrants who are on board who will be welcomed and assisted in the best possible way”.… Be Informed